West Marine in Santa Cruz

I really don't know where in the Web Site to post this so I am using the Fishing Reports (please excuse me if this is the wrong area).  I just want to pass on how pleased I am with West Marine in Santa Cruz and in particular Galen Piltz (the store manager).  I bought a Lowrance GPS / Fishfinder from West Marine this July.  Originally, I was going to buy it from Amazon to save the sales tax and extra cost but after all the service Galen gave me, I thought I owed it to him to buy it locally.  Well this Sunday the unit failed and I thought this was the start of a major headache as well as not being able to fish until it came back from Lowrance.  I went into West Marine today (2 days after the incident) and Galen says it is probably a chip malfunction and hands me a new unit (no questions, problems, or attitude).  Wow!  I have heard of the reasons to buy locally but this really reinforces everything I understand to be correct.  I feel so serviced and so good about the store and Galen (in particular) that they probably have a customer for life.  I just had to pass this on for very few people reflect on the positive things and spend all their time discussing all the things that have been wronged.  I think Galen Piltz deserves some major "Kudos".

Did you have an Eagle 245 DS?
 I got two of them from the SC West store and each failed.  They exchanged the first one, and after the second failure, I sent it to the factory and they  replaced it, and said there was a software issue - I kind of wondered if the supply West had in their warehouse (that's where the SC store said they were getting them from, they didn't have them displayed) were all defective.  The one the factory sent me has been working fine. They were good about support too.

Supporting local shops instead of internet shops is what will keep the economy strong in your neighborhood. Americans need to get over bargain hunting and just pay the fair market value if it supports one of their own.

That is really good to hear, kmunger. I have been really disappointed with the WM in Monterey. Granted, its a mini-WM or whatever they call it...but still.

Also, I think the idea of supporting local shops is a good thing to do. However, the term local shop refers to Tim's Tackle or JD's Auto + Fishing Supply...as opposed to West Marine.
PK

West Marine will also match prices from other stores.

West Marine will also match prices from other stores.

I also have had them match internet prices, not always,

 the extended warranty on electronics is not a bad idea, not to expensive with

  " Act of God "  Protection ........... Danglin

I have been shopping at the West Marine in Santa Cruz for a number of years for my sail boat and it has always been a positive experience. Since selling the boat and moving over to the kayak side I see less of the store (a good thing) but was in to buy 2 VHF radios and 2 FF early in the summer. In all cases I had first researched brands and prices on the internet including West Marine's site and they were happy to match the online price @ of their web store when I brought it to there attention. I now always check their website before heading to the local brick and mortar. I could have saved a ton of $ over the years had I got onto that earlier.
Rocketman

they were happy to match the online price @ of their web store when I brought it to there attention. I now always check their website before heading to the local brick and mortar. I could have saved a ton of $ over the years had I got onto that earlier.
Rocketman

I have to admit this is a pet peeve of mine.  a few years back I was looking for something and researched the price online at $100 at west marines site.  My wife went in and bought it and paid $140 for it.  I am generally not one to bitch about things so I let it go but it did strike me as a dumb plan.  I can no longer trust west marine prices without research.  Once I have done all that work, why would I order from them as opposed to some cheaper source? 

I used to buy all my tackle from a local shop called Yagi's (now closed) and while they were not the cheapest, I could trust the prices were the same for me and everyone who came in the store.

they were not the cheapest, I could trust the prices were the same for me and everyone who came in the store.

You know, that's a good point...